When Caring For Your Elderly Loved One Becomes More Than You Can Handle
Are you currently an adult care giver? If so, you should know that you are not alone. As of this writing, over 16 percent of the country’s adult population is caring for someone who is 50 years of age and older. Many of these caregivers have full time jobs and children under the age of 18.
Almost 80 percent of these caregivers have to ask other family members and friends for assistance because they are unable to provide total care for their loved one, and those who travel spend over $400 a month in additional expenses related to travel. Although an adult care giver realizes that their loved one needs assistance, they begin to understand that the care their loved one needs is more than they are able to provide. Housekeeping, meal preparation, transportation and personal care tasks can eventually take their toll on family members and the entire family dynamic.
If caring for your loved one has become too much for you, the adult care giver, to handle, you can contact a professional home healthcare agency to see how you can help your loved one get the care and assistance he or she needs.
Does Your Loved One Need Assistance?
The first thing that you should do is assess your loved one’s needs. Are his or her needs changing? Some of the signs you should look for are:
- Disinterest in social interactions
- Bad hygiene
- Poor nutrition
- Forgetfulness
- Poor financial management
If your loved one is exhibiting one or more of these signs, you and other family members will need to decide what next steps you will take in your loved one’s care.
What to Do When Your Loved One Needs Assistance
As stated, when these changes become noticeable, the family will need to meet to discuss options. It is also important to schedule a doctor appointment for your loved one so the doctor can provide recommendations for care and give your loved one a long term prognosis.
A home healthcare agency can be contacted to provide the client and the adult care giver with an assessment and a care plan to give you and your loved one peace of mind. The care plan will be tailored to handle your loved one’s specific needs.
If your loved one lives in the River Oaks area, contact us for a free assessment to learn how we can provide you or your loved one with quality care with a range of services to address any need.
